Quotes

September 23, 2010

Does anyone really know, or care, who the Jersey housewives or the Kardashians are? Am I the only one who thinks that the world has gone insane? There was an article in the newspaper this morning (are we the only ones who still get a daily newspaper?) that questioned the new wave of reality shows. There doesn’t seem to be any boundaries with all the social networking and reality shows.

“Do reality shows really reflect reality as it really is...or maybe the shows promote less than ideal values, encourage less than ideal behavior and actually have contributed to our popular culture circling the drain.” The Oregonian, September 23, 2010

I also don’t get following your favorite “fill in the blank company or brand” on Facebook or Twitter. Who cares if I like Japanese Cherry Blossom scent from Bath and Body Works! I deactivated my Facebook account this morning. To be honest, Facebook made me feel “less than” and I want/need to feel like I am enough (thanks Brene Brown for that). I don’t want to sit on the edge of life, reading about other people’s busy, fun lives.

The fall season of television has begun and along with it, comes the choice of how much and what to watch. Russell and I have made a conscious decision to cut back on our TV watching. Since he rarely gets home before 7:30, we have approximately two – three hours in the evening together. We have discovered how wonderful Netflix is and how much we enjoy watching our favorite shows without commercial interruption. We bought Tivo’s about a year ago and absolutely love them. So with the fall TV schedule in hand, we’ve selected the shows that we will record and watch and which ones we will wait to come out on DVD. Our favorite shows are: Modern Family, The Middle, The Big Bang Theory, Criminal Minds, NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles. We’re adding Hawaii Five-O to our list. What are you watching this fall?

It’s raining today and fall is definitely in the air. If the weather is cooperative this weekend, Russell and I are going to Hood River for another photography date. We have free tickets to the Hood River History Museum (you can get free tickets to a museum in the area by following this link), and then we’re driving the “Fruit Loop”, featuring orchards selling a variety of fruits. We’ll drive up the Columbia Gorge historic highway and stop at Multnomah Falls and Crown Point. With the leaves turning, we should get some great photos.

From Brene Brown's blog: "Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, no matter what gets done and how much is left undone; I am enough."

December 04, 2008

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all.

I took this photo late in October when we stopped at Rocky Butte, an overlook here in Portland, to see the view. The sun through the trees made me feel like we were being warmed by the presence of God. I love little miracles like this one...

October 06, 2008

Take in the wonder…let me show you the ocean. Let me show you the sea. Can you hear the waves? Can you feel the breeze? Can you taste the salt? Can you smell the sea?. Take in the wonder. Take in the joy.

September 27, 2008

There is no time warp. We cannot go back, only forward. Living well is a deliberate decision. One made every day under all circumstances. Appreciating the absurd in life keeps us sane. Finding time to laugh and people to laugh with is what true friendship is all about.

I don't think there's anything more precious than hearing the laughter of a child...to see the shear pleasure over the simplest things. Shanna is about 16 months old in this photo (wasn't she a cutie!!). What a delightful, funny child she was...we never had the terrible toddler years with her...she was nearly always happy and made us laugh with her silly and goofy little ways...good memories.

September 24, 2008

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

September 11, 2008

Be glad of life because it gives you a chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at stars.

There's nothing quite like watching your child play and be so joyful about just being outside...this is one of my favorite photos of Shanna...she was about four and still loved dresses and the color pink...despite the dress, she was all tomboy and always had scraped knees...I miss that cute little girl who would run into my arms for a hug and kiss...at 16, she's often in another world and her hugs are rare things that I treasure...

September 10, 2008

Let go of perfection, of striving to be flawless. Let go of the woman you always thought you ought to be, and fall in love with the wonderful woman you are."

Thanks BonnieRose for the wonderful quote. This photo is of my daughter Shanna, taken at Disney World last fall. One of our favorite family traditions is taking silly hat pictures. I pray that she will always know what a strong confident, beautiful young woman she is and how proud we are of her.

September 09, 2008

Whether you know it or not…you are already there…you are the beauty…the power…the wisdom…the passion…the knowledge…the fire…the calm…the heart and the soul. You are the star of your being…all you have to do is let yourself shine.

I look at this photo of my Shanna girl...not a girl at all, but a young woman, ready for the prom (May 2008). When we adopted her (she was seven weeks old when we picked her up in Louisville, Kentucky), I had this vision of what I thought my child would be...she's absolutely nothing like my vision...and yet I can't imagine her being anything but what she is...she's not a "girly-girl" at all and seems not to be aware of how attractive she is. She's funny, sure of herself, passionate about being a Christ-follower and so steadfast in her beliefs - what more could a Mom want. I know that she can be or do anything she sets her heart on. It's a bittersweet time as she grows up and pulls away, so I treasure the rare times when the little girl in her still asks for her Mom - like she did last week when she didn't feel good and wanted to cuddle together on the couch. Keep your light shining girl...you have a bright future. I'm so thankful that God blessed us with you...so thankful that your birthmother entrusted us with the incredible gift of this wonderful child.

September 08, 2008

I’m dancing, I’m leaping, I’m skipping about. I gallop. I grin. I giggle. I shout. I’m earth’s many colors. I’m morning and night. I’m honey on toast, I’m funny. I’m bright. I’m swinging. I’m singing. I wiggle. I run. I’m a piece of the sky in a circle of sun.

There's something about being at the beach that allows me to relax and release myself from the cares of the world. Russell and I had the opportunity to take a day trip to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago and were blessed with a beautiful sunny day with hardly no wind. Loved our time on the beach...and watching the children running around, building sandcastles, playing in the waves made me realize once again how often we stifle our inner child...so today...instead of stuffing that feeling down...do something silly...laugh out loud, sing, skip and have fun...life is too short to be serious all the time...